What it means to be alone: knowledge that comes with age, and which certainly contributes to Carlota Gurt’s exquisite novel. A 307-page book, Alone takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions straight from its very beginning – a raw and emotional journey of a 42-year-old woman Mei, who decides to move back to the cottage from her childhood and tries to rebuild herself by writing a novel. 

The writing compels her, to the point of becoming a form of obsession. Reminiscing about her past, she dives into a future of uncertainty. Alone in the woods, meeting with her primal self, her desires, and fears, Mei takes on a journey of self-discovery that, while not so obvious at first, packs a punch to put it lightly.

The countdown to ‘That Day’, which starts 185 days earlier, creates a sense of mystery and suspense. Gurt writes with incredible intensity, thanks to which reading Alone feels like breathing – you can’t stop. Is loneliness a blessing or a slow way of losing oneself? Is it easy to move on and forget about your past? Maybe it is always going to come back and haunt you. Alone tries to answer those questions and it does so vividly.